Seasonal inspiration

Get ready for spring gardening and entertaining at Inspiration Night: Spring to Life and Get Planting, Minnesota!, an evening of sips, samples, shopping and instruction, hosted by Bachman's from 4 to 8 p.m. on April 27. Seminars on edible gardening, choosing and planting trees and shrubs, fresh spring floral design, outdoor container design and garden tips will be repeated at 4:15, 5, 5:45 and 6:30 p.m. Belinda Jensen will be on hand from 5 to 7 p.m. to sign copies of her book, "Bel the Weather Girl."

Tickets are $10 plus a small EventBrite fee, which includes light bites and wine (must be 21 or older to be served). The event will be held at Bachman's on Lyndale, 6010 Lyndale Av. S., Mpls. Buy tickets at eventbrite.com (search "bachmans").

Festive florals

Spring brings Art in Bloom, the annual celebration of art and flowers at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. The event includes more than 150 floral displays inspired by works of art in the museum's collection, April 28 to May 1. Art in Bloom kicks off with a preview party April 27 at 6 p.m. in the Target Reception Hall. Free 45-minute docent-led tours of floral displays will be offered during the four-day event.

Special events during Art in Bloom include presentations by Chris Strand, director of the garden and estate at Winterthur, a 60-acre naturalistic garden in Delaware, 10 a.m. April 28 ($25); a master class in flower arranging by Michael Gaffney from the Minneapolis School of Flower Design, 2 p.m. April 28 ($25); themed arrangements and edible tablescapes by Karin Woodward, lead designer at Haute Horticulture, 10 a.m. April 29 ($25); a formal luncheon and fashion show, noon April 29 ($75); and a family event featuring Brian the Story Man from England, 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and noon April 30. MIA is located at 2400 3rd Av. S., Mpls. For more information, visit artsmia.org.

Outdoor season

Get ready for summer with a series of free workshops at Gertens on April 30. A turf workshop will be offered at 10 a.m. covering everything you need to know about seeding, fertilizing, watering and prevention of crabgrass and dandelions. At 11 a.m. will be a seminar on installing an outdoor fire pit. Grilling demos, with food samples, will be offered from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Preregister for the turf workshop at gertens.com/events. Gertens is located at 5500 Blaine Av., Inver Grove Heights.

KIM PALMER